Trump reduces size of 2 national monuments in Utah as Republicans reshape land management

President Trump has significantly reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah, diminishing their protections for archaeological and historical sites by about 90%. This action reverses longstanding safeguards put in place by previous administrations and aligns with Republican efforts to overhaul land management policies. The reduction has sparked controversy, highlighting the ongoing debate over public land use and conservation versus development interests, with implications for both environmental preservation and Indigenous rights.